Chapter 3: The Bennett

      The Bennett generation are known throughout Witherhall, their ancestors settled in Dutchmall far back in the 1300 century. They became famous in the 1500 century because they were the best farmers of that time. They acquired lands and progressed into farm trade. Through yearly tributes and deep display of loyalty to the King as they grew in wealth and power. The King gave them a royal title as Baron and Baroness of Dutchmall.  

       In this present generation they have the best wheat plantation, their wheat flour is called golden flour best for pastries making because they make the best bread, cake anyone could ever taste. Jaylyn had learnt so much about the great history made by her ancestors and she gets happy whenever she cultivates wheat. Her uncle had grown their business bigger than his previous ancestors. Recognizing her crazy love for pastries was inborn. She loves the feel of fresh bread, croissants, tart and butter cake. 

    In her uncle's farm, all the farm laborers gather grains, Oats, and wheat then send them to the farm barn where they are thrashed and grounded at the feedmill. Jaylyn starts off everyday as one of the farm laborers before going to the bread factory where she works as a dairy maid and bread baker. 

    To the outside world, the Bennett are wonderful and well-respected people loyal to the throne and king. Well-known for paying the highest tribute to the king. This gave them more prestige than most noble clans. 

      The Bennett had properly prepared and groomed their daughters for the throne. In truth lies a whole different scenario, starting with the Baron, a crude and despotic man in the most despicable manner. His, a man full of greed and treachery. He cared less about his servants and treated them like dirt, he is very ruthless in laying down rules, if anyone dares to disobey, the penalty will be deadly and pitiless. He is presumed as a generous, calm and jolly man especially after he accepted Jaylyn whom no one had heard of, since he lied that he married her off to a wealthy suitor. Despite his cruelty, his servants were loyal to him because they feared for their lives. His wife, The Baroness is an epitome of evil, the devil incarnate herself, vicious and very wicked in Character. 

     Her two daughters, Malinda and Olyvia both dumb heads, beautiful but spiteful in nature and evil like their mother who they share the same Brunette hair color and facial beauty. Their mother cares less about them because they were girls but loves and pampers their only brother. Their son, James at the age of seventeen is spoiled and over pampered by his parents especially his mother, this made him wayward and ill-mannered. The twins were mostly reprimanded by their mother whenever they act out in public but when it comes to James, his misdeeds are overlooked and this leads to his ill-mannered behavior. His mother was his best supporter even when he's wrong. 

     He had been caught more than once at the gambling table and his frequent visit to the brothel at Ravengate. His mother had tried  to conceal the news from spreading but when his father got a wind of it, he was furious. 

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     That evening, there was an extremely teased look on every servant's face that evening as Jaylyn returned from work. Tension set the whole house into a graveyard. 

     Jaylyn lurked around the house to see if she could hear anything. At the down chambers where the dungeon was located, she heard loud noises and a loud moan. Then it became obvious that a servant was being punished badly. 

     Loud voices came out from the down chamber. 

"Flag her mercilessly!, make sure she bleeds, " that was Lady Alfreda's voice giving out harsh instructions. 

    Hearing her voice, Jaylyn ran into the kitchen where she found Miss Camila sitting down moody. "What has happened? Who is being  punished so bitterly? ". 

Jaylyn asked, still terrified at what she had just heard. 

"Oh my dear, " 

  Miss Camila breathed out a sigh of relief as she saw Jaylyn. 

"I don't really know, but whoever is being punished is a worker from the laborers in the farm. When I heard it was a girl and that she was accused of stealing from Lady Alfreda, I got worried ..... I thought ..."

She started crying 

"You were the one"

"Oh Miss  Camila!, I am alright, I just arrived but this is odd, how can  an ordinary laborer even get close to Lady Alfreda, knowing how much she treats peasants no one could even steal from her. " She lashes out. 

"Quiet down child, the walls have ears" she warned. 

      After an hour, Jaylyn discovered it was Martha, who works with her on the farm. She caught James taking money from the factory worker to sponsor his gambling game a night before the incident.she witnessed the whole incident instead of keeping quiet, she wanted to make money by telling his father, who paid her for her silence but that same money was planted on her as evidence to frame her for stealing. 

Jaylyn gripped her mouth in shock with her left hand as the servants discussed the issue. 

"That poor girl, hope she makes it tomorrow, " Miss Camila said emotionless cause this was not the first time such an event  had happened, she had even witnessed horrible incidents like this one. 

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"You imbecile!, have you not disgraced me enough!" The sound of heavy whipping came out from the Baron's chamber. 

"My lord! Please take pity on him, he's still very young." His mother pleaded on his behalf. 

" He will learn ..... Please"

Not listening to her pleas, Lord Bennett kept on lashing him with his cow-tailed whip. 

" Please my Lord! Please stop before you kill him. " She tried stopping him but he pushed her away. 

"Don't you dare stop me!," he warned. "This son of yours keeps  bringing shame into this household." 

he kept whipping him while his son lay bareback on the floor, gnashing out in pain.

"Better be careful or you would end up like your uncle and I wouldn't regret disowning you. " he warned 

Out of rage, Lady Alfreda screamed, 

"May my ancestors turn in their grave, don't you ever compare my son with that lousy, good for nothing, garbage brother of yours!". 

To avoid more ranting from his wife, he walked away to his study to have peace of mind. 

"Oh my darling, I'm  so sorry, he had destroyed your back " she gently carried her son as he dangled back and forth nearly to the ground. 

" Don't worry, I will make her pay, she won't speak any word about you ever again." She promised. 

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     Jaylyn prepares to leave for the market the next morning, the Butler informs her of her presence being needed by Lady Alfreda. Surprise That Lady Alfreda woke up very early that morning unlike any other day, she wondered what her fate might hold as she walked up through the staircase and knocked in Lady Alfreda's chamber 

"Come in"

"My lady you sent for me" She bowed. 

    After a long minute of silence, lady Alfreda asked in a sharp heated voice.  

"Why did you send Martha to frame my son? "

Shocked and muddled by the sudden accusation, Jaylyn couldn't speak. 

"Have I not treated you well? " she asked. 

      Not knowing the state of her situation, Jaylyn remained quiet like a mute. Getting no answer Lady Alfreda rises from her chair, grabs her by her elbow " Answer me, when I am talking to you! ". 

She said vehemently.  

"After all I have done for you, you decided to lie against my son, "

As Jaylyn tried to speak, she slapped her hard .across the face. 

      "Today, you shall be punished for lying against my family, you wouldn't escape me today, you shall receive no food, water and knee next to the farm fire till all its flames are quenched, then you clean the mess you made in the dark room."She said dastardly 

       That morning, the farm men burnt all the farm and domestic waste while Jaylyn kneed very close to the fire's flame till afternoon when it quenched. Her skin was badly burnt with red blemishes and sores. 

      Her aunt watched her pitilessly with her children as she cried. 

       Already bruised all over her knee, she had to crawl slowly because she could barely walk into the dark room. There she saw Martha's  body hanging upside down as blood poured down vigorously from her bruised head with her blood clotted eyes wide open. With a loud cry, Jaylyn screamed out as she saw Matha's lifeless body.